Monday, June 14, 2010

Stand-up comic and blogger Heshy Fried wrote on his Frum Satire blog yesterday that shuls (synagogues) "in the New York metropolitan area are going to be charging premium prices for premium seats, like those with more legroom" in order to raise more money in these challenging financial times.

This got me thinking that synagogues aren't really all that different than the airlines in this regard.

Synagogues pass out candies during the service (throw candy at bar mitzvah boy after successful layning); Airlines pass out food during the flight (don't throw peanuts at pilot after successful landing!)

Synagogues have Kiddush Clubs; Airlines offer Scotch too

People doze off mid-service; People doze off mid-flight

Synagogues charge more for good seats (by exit); Airlines charge more for good seats (by entrance)

People pray in synagogues; People pray on airplanes (use tefillin at your own risk)

I'm sure it won't be long before synagogues follow the airlines and start charging for bags too ("Sir, that is an extra-large tallis bag and you'll have pay $15 if you want to bring that into the shul").

These comparisons really shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, both industries are hurting financially right now and are looking to reinvent themselves in a competitive market. Is it really any wonder that the airline named Spirit is currently on strike?

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Rabbi Jason Miller

Rabbi Jason Miller is a rabbi, educator, entrepreneur and blogger. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, he is visiting rabbi at Congregation B'nai Israel in Toledo, Ohio. He serves as president of Access Technology, a premier source for 21st-century IT, web design, SEO, technology consulting and social media marketing. Interested in how modern technology affects Jewish life, particularly the impact of the Internet on the Jewish global community, Rabbi Jason is a popular speaker on the intersection of technology and Judaism.